15 months!
The boys are 15 months old!!! Last Friday, I had a vacation day planned for their well baby check. It worked out great because Houston had our "Winter Storm 2011" ice storm that come through on Thursday night. But never you worry, Wells Fargo opened for all your banking needs :-) So glad I didn't have to worry about going in that day! The boys school even opened.. I think one of the only ones open in Houston. But I kept them home for a "snow day" with mom.
Wow. 15 months is awesome and totally exhausted. They are into EVERYTHING! Nothing is safe. I look around some times and they have the oddest items.. and I wonder where in the world they found that. They both will stand up on the tippy tippiest toe to fumble their hands on countertops, drawers, and shelves to see what treasures can be found. They are both the biggest help you have ever seen.
At school they have to learn to put their work away after individual mat time. At home, they love to help me put clothes in the laundry basket (and take them out again), trash in the trash can (but we have to be careful what items appear in there) and toys back in buckets.
Its so hard to get good pictures of them now! They move to dang much. A good one of the two of them together.. a serious challenge. And its hard for me to hold the camera because one of them is after it and trying to grab it.. not to mention I need my hands free to get them out of whatever they have managed to get in to.
Beckett is such a joy. He has the biggest brightest smile and the sweetest dimples. I love this face!
His hair is getting so long. We are thinking of getting his first "shape up" soon.
He has the widest feet you have ever seen. And the cutest little rear :-) He has 8 teeth but has one molar coming in on the top right but it hasn't poked through yet which is giving us a hard time.
The funniest part of this stage in our lives is that Beckett has officially "moved out". I know... I wanted to keep them together but Beckett is not a sound sleeper. He makes a lot of noises, cries on and off, and 5:00 on the dot each morning raises a stink for a cup of milk. All of these shenanigans leads to waking up Eli who is a GREAT sleeper. So Beckett's bed has been moved to Justin's office for now. That is sweet Beckett's room. Hopefully one day they will move back in together but for now they are apart for sleeping.
Beckett is not walking yet. He is making progress though. He has been slower to hit the physical milestones from the beginning and just in the last month he has started pushing the tractor and the walker all over the house. Now at 18 months the doctor said we start getting "concerned" but not worried. He has 2 words Momma and Dadda but he should have 3 at the 15 month milestone. We are not concerned or worried but we are going to go ahead and have ECI come out and evaluate him. She said they could give us tips and therapy that might help him hit the milestone sooner. Its free and I need to put my taxpayers $$ to use! So I will keep you posted on what they say.
Beckett weighs 27 lbs and 15 ozs. Which puts him in the 88th percentile for weight and he is 32 1/4th in height 81st percentile for that and of course 99th percentile in head :-) The doctor said that it takes until 2 years old to really determine height but in general if they are over 75% at this visit they will be at least 6 feet. I am looking at 2 boys over 6 feet.. will I ever be able to keep them fed???
Eli weighs 27 lbs 1 oz so just a little behind Beckett in the 80th percentile and 1/4 inch shorter than his big brother Beckett. 98th for head so keeping pace their as well. He has 9 teeth in. All front 8 plus on molar on the top right side. He also has all the other 3 molars "puffing" so he has a lot of action in his mouth right now :-(
Eli is hilarious! He truly is. I mean when I thought about having babies I really only thought and dreamed about the hugging and rocking and sweet baby part. I was not prepared for all the laughs these 2 guys have brought into my house. He is very very busy but also surprises you how sweet he can be. He always has something crazy in his hands and/or mouth.. like my toothbrush! I rarely get to take a shower with out 1 or 2 heads poking around the curtain either throwing things in or trying to touch the water :-)
He only wants to walk or run everywhere. Does not want to be carried, never wants to get in his car seat, and never wants to come inside. All of the above mentioned result in totally falling out on the ground, back arched, screaming fits. Oh yeah. HUGE tantrums. Our current parenting method is to totally ignore. After a few minutes, he sees you aren't watching and gets up and comes along. He is still very cautious with strangers. He fusses to get down and the grocery store, I put him down. He walks a couple of steps, sees that a stranger is looking at him, turns around and buries himself in my legs to be picked up. Notices said stranger is gone, wants to be put down, walks until we see someone else. Repeat. He has words. Real words. So I am only counting the ones that he uses consistently and in the right context. "all done", "duck", "ball", "mommy", "daddy", "cat", and "dog". There are a ton more that he imitates us or uses on and off. Like today we were in the bedroom playing and he stood up and let one rip. He looked at me and I said "oops frogs" and he "frog" and we both just died laughing!
Here are some pics of our favorite toys. I try to pick them up and arrange them every couple of days. They seem to play so much better when they get to pull everything out again. These are my "Eli traps" He hates having all the animals in their place, and the drivers in all the trucks.
Speaking of playing, we are really getting into the challenges of siblings and twins. Brawls over toys. Constantly not wanting to share. Eli dominates the situation most of the time which just frustrates Beckett which leads to pulled hair and Eli being bit. Beckett is a huge biter. Fortunately we haven't had issues at school but I have scars all over my shoulder. He doesn't bite Justin its so weird. He only bites me and usually when he is hugging and loving on me... or if I break up the fight! We are trying to be consistent with him and know that it is a phase.... I think I say "share your toys" a thousand times a day!
They are doing so well at school. They get great reports from the teacher and I love hearing about what lessons they really loved. I went recently and observed on the camera for a little over an hour. Amazed at how well they listened, sat in circle time, signed for the teacher. They are still great eaters although they have slowed down some. They are eating 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day. They are drinking a TON of milk. 1/2 gallon a day is what we go through. And a ton of water. Our favorite snacks are goldfish, pirates bootie, teddy grahams, and yogurt snacks. They don't dress a like for school, just on weekends. So I have finally gotten to take advantage of sale racks because I don't stress about 2 of the same size. I like for them to coordinate if we can but not often do we get to do that. Beckett is in a 5 1/2 wide and Eli a 5 regular shoe in Stride Rite (which I love). They also have a couple of pairs of New Balance that we snagged at the outlet and my favorite are the Pediped driving type shoes that Ma gave them.
With working anywhere from 55-65 hours a week, boys in school, working on the weekends, Justin's traveling, trying to cook dinner every night, and keep up with life, I am more exhausted and busy than I have ever been. (but I wouldn't trade this crazy life for anything!) I often find it hard to get this blog updated because once they are in bed I just want to rest myself!
The sweetest sweetest moments are so unplanned though. Sometimes like tonight, they were both fighting to sit in the recliner with me. I watched the Super Bowl with a little boy under each arm, sweet smells of that clean hair from their bath and my heart it just is overwhelmed with gratitude for their little lives. That they are healthy, incredibly happy, and thriving. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be their mom. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing 15 months with these 2 angels. I thank God for our family each and every day.
Love, The Riley's
Wow. 15 months is awesome and totally exhausted. They are into EVERYTHING! Nothing is safe. I look around some times and they have the oddest items.. and I wonder where in the world they found that. They both will stand up on the tippy tippiest toe to fumble their hands on countertops, drawers, and shelves to see what treasures can be found. They are both the biggest help you have ever seen.
 |
| Helping mommy put the groceries up |
 |
| Helping mommy get ready for work. Notice the eyeliner on that cheek! |
At school they have to learn to put their work away after individual mat time. At home, they love to help me put clothes in the laundry basket (and take them out again), trash in the trash can (but we have to be careful what items appear in there) and toys back in buckets.
Its so hard to get good pictures of them now! They move to dang much. A good one of the two of them together.. a serious challenge. And its hard for me to hold the camera because one of them is after it and trying to grab it.. not to mention I need my hands free to get them out of whatever they have managed to get in to.
 |
| Our attempt at getting a photo together to send to the Florida grandparents |
Beckett is such a joy. He has the biggest brightest smile and the sweetest dimples. I love this face!
 |
| Happy face!! |
His hair is getting so long. We are thinking of getting his first "shape up" soon.
 |
| the curls |
He has the widest feet you have ever seen. And the cutest little rear :-) He has 8 teeth but has one molar coming in on the top right but it hasn't poked through yet which is giving us a hard time.
The funniest part of this stage in our lives is that Beckett has officially "moved out". I know... I wanted to keep them together but Beckett is not a sound sleeper. He makes a lot of noises, cries on and off, and 5:00 on the dot each morning raises a stink for a cup of milk. All of these shenanigans leads to waking up Eli who is a GREAT sleeper. So Beckett's bed has been moved to Justin's office for now. That is sweet Beckett's room. Hopefully one day they will move back in together but for now they are apart for sleeping.
Beckett is not walking yet. He is making progress though. He has been slower to hit the physical milestones from the beginning and just in the last month he has started pushing the tractor and the walker all over the house. Now at 18 months the doctor said we start getting "concerned" but not worried. He has 2 words Momma and Dadda but he should have 3 at the 15 month milestone. We are not concerned or worried but we are going to go ahead and have ECI come out and evaluate him. She said they could give us tips and therapy that might help him hit the milestone sooner. Its free and I need to put my taxpayers $$ to use! So I will keep you posted on what they say.
Beckett weighs 27 lbs and 15 ozs. Which puts him in the 88th percentile for weight and he is 32 1/4th in height 81st percentile for that and of course 99th percentile in head :-) The doctor said that it takes until 2 years old to really determine height but in general if they are over 75% at this visit they will be at least 6 feet. I am looking at 2 boys over 6 feet.. will I ever be able to keep them fed???
Eli weighs 27 lbs 1 oz so just a little behind Beckett in the 80th percentile and 1/4 inch shorter than his big brother Beckett. 98th for head so keeping pace their as well. He has 9 teeth in. All front 8 plus on molar on the top right side. He also has all the other 3 molars "puffing" so he has a lot of action in his mouth right now :-(
Eli is hilarious! He truly is. I mean when I thought about having babies I really only thought and dreamed about the hugging and rocking and sweet baby part. I was not prepared for all the laughs these 2 guys have brought into my house. He is very very busy but also surprises you how sweet he can be. He always has something crazy in his hands and/or mouth.. like my toothbrush! I rarely get to take a shower with out 1 or 2 heads poking around the curtain either throwing things in or trying to touch the water :-)
 |
| yes! that is my toothbrush |
He only wants to walk or run everywhere. Does not want to be carried, never wants to get in his car seat, and never wants to come inside. All of the above mentioned result in totally falling out on the ground, back arched, screaming fits. Oh yeah. HUGE tantrums. Our current parenting method is to totally ignore. After a few minutes, he sees you aren't watching and gets up and comes along. He is still very cautious with strangers. He fusses to get down and the grocery store, I put him down. He walks a couple of steps, sees that a stranger is looking at him, turns around and buries himself in my legs to be picked up. Notices said stranger is gone, wants to be put down, walks until we see someone else. Repeat. He has words. Real words. So I am only counting the ones that he uses consistently and in the right context. "all done", "duck", "ball", "mommy", "daddy", "cat", and "dog". There are a ton more that he imitates us or uses on and off. Like today we were in the bedroom playing and he stood up and let one rip. He looked at me and I said "oops frogs" and he "frog" and we both just died laughing!
Here are some pics of our favorite toys. I try to pick them up and arrange them every couple of days. They seem to play so much better when they get to pull everything out again. These are my "Eli traps" He hates having all the animals in their place, and the drivers in all the trucks.
Speaking of playing, we are really getting into the challenges of siblings and twins. Brawls over toys. Constantly not wanting to share. Eli dominates the situation most of the time which just frustrates Beckett which leads to pulled hair and Eli being bit. Beckett is a huge biter. Fortunately we haven't had issues at school but I have scars all over my shoulder. He doesn't bite Justin its so weird. He only bites me and usually when he is hugging and loving on me... or if I break up the fight! We are trying to be consistent with him and know that it is a phase.... I think I say "share your toys" a thousand times a day!
 |
| This is taken right before Beckett tries to grab his shoe, Eli kicks him, Beckett grabs Eli's leg and takes a bite! |
They are doing so well at school. They get great reports from the teacher and I love hearing about what lessons they really loved. I went recently and observed on the camera for a little over an hour. Amazed at how well they listened, sat in circle time, signed for the teacher. They are still great eaters although they have slowed down some. They are eating 3 meals and 2 to 3 snacks a day. They are drinking a TON of milk. 1/2 gallon a day is what we go through. And a ton of water. Our favorite snacks are goldfish, pirates bootie, teddy grahams, and yogurt snacks. They don't dress a like for school, just on weekends. So I have finally gotten to take advantage of sale racks because I don't stress about 2 of the same size. I like for them to coordinate if we can but not often do we get to do that. Beckett is in a 5 1/2 wide and Eli a 5 regular shoe in Stride Rite (which I love). They also have a couple of pairs of New Balance that we snagged at the outlet and my favorite are the Pediped driving type shoes that Ma gave them.
With working anywhere from 55-65 hours a week, boys in school, working on the weekends, Justin's traveling, trying to cook dinner every night, and keep up with life, I am more exhausted and busy than I have ever been. (but I wouldn't trade this crazy life for anything!) I often find it hard to get this blog updated because once they are in bed I just want to rest myself!
The sweetest sweetest moments are so unplanned though. Sometimes like tonight, they were both fighting to sit in the recliner with me. I watched the Super Bowl with a little boy under each arm, sweet smells of that clean hair from their bath and my heart it just is overwhelmed with gratitude for their little lives. That they are healthy, incredibly happy, and thriving. I am blessed to be given the opportunity to be their mom. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing 15 months with these 2 angels. I thank God for our family each and every day.
Love, The Riley's